If you go to the Google.cn homepage, chances are that you will see a static image of a Google search box. The search box, links and other options are gone and there is a small message in Chinese which means We have moved to Google.com.hk. Please add this site to your browser bookmarks. (see translated version)

Here is how the homepage of Google China looks like:

Clicking anywhere on the page redirects you to Google Hong Kong homepage google.com.hk. It looks like Google is planning a separate landing page for all the Chinese users and this redirect is a temporary measure to let only a small percentage of users search Google via Google Hong Kong site.

We currently automatically redirect everyone using Google.cn to Google.com.hk, our Hong Kong search engine. This redirect, which offers unfiltered search in simplified Chinese, has been working well for our users and for Google. However, it’s clear from conversations we have had with Chinese government officials that they find the redirect unacceptableâ€”and that if we continue redirecting users our Internet Content Provider license will not be renewed (it’s up for renewal on June 30). Without an ICP license, we can’t operate a commercial website like Google.cnâ€”so Google would effectively go dark in China.

The Chinese government officials are not very happy regarding the redirects and if Google continues to redirect users to Google Hong Kong, Google’s Internet content Provider license might not be renewed.

Amit has been writing for Techie Buzz since early 2009 and keeps a close eye on web apps, Google and all things Tech. He also writes at his own tech blog, Ampercent. Follow him on Twitter @ amit_banerjee